The French Localization Map of Avalanche Phenomena (CLPA): stakes and prospects

Abstract

The French Localization Map of Avalanche Phenomena (CLPA) was created in 1971 as a response to the deadly avalanche occurred in Val d'Isère (February 1970, 39 persons killed). The aim is to inventory and to memorize areas where avalanches occurred in the past in order to keep in memory precisely greatest limits of those avalanches. The CLPA was rapidly considered as an essential element for developing plan in mountain areas. After the other catastrophic avalanche, which occurred in the Montroc Village (Chamonix) in February 1999, it was recommended "the mutual valuation of the EPA and the CLPA integrated into an information system containing the information on avalanches and the information on the other natural risks in mountain". The ministry in charge of environment decided therefore to continue and to modernize the CLPA, mission that was assigned to the Cemagref with the ONF collaboration. This modernization was based on the end of maps and testimonies records digitizing, on the compilation of summary notes concerning main avalanches information in reference to a mountain massif, on the institution of a durable updating of the map and on the possibility of having all information on line on the website www.avalanches.fr. Information recorded in the data-base is really important for research. Now the Cemagref want to capitalize on it with numerical models and calibrated tools. Specific parameters could be used in order to develop statistical laws which could be used for not well-known sites so.